Looking on the bright side of a soggy weather forecast as predicted for the week of Sept. 21-27, 2026, in South Florida? After the daily deluges there could be rainbows by the weekend as the forecast has changed. This was the sky on Thursday evening, Sept. 17, over the University of Miami pool deck.
Howard Cohen
hcohen@miamiherald.com
South Florida’s forecast this week predicted a washout into the weekend. But there is some good news.
Drier air is expected to move into the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area earlier than expected, later Wednesday. The weekend forecast now predicts just a 20% chance for storms Saturday and Sunday, down from the originally forecast 70%.
First we have to get through the first part of Wednesday, with early flood advisories and rain amounts between three and four inches estimated by radar along the coast from North Miami-Dade to South Broward, according to Miami Herald news partner CBS News Miami.
“Skies will clear up later Wednesday afternoon as dry air begins to move into the region from up north,” said CBS meteorologist Dave Warren in his morning broadcast. “This will lower the rain chances starting Thursday and continuing through the weekend.”
The National Weather Service in Miami concurs. There’s only a slight chance for thunderstorms over the weekend and the sun icon, missing for days and days, now shines on its main webpage.
Meanwhile, Fort Lauderdale “shattered its all-time September rainfall record with 20.75 inches of rain as of 8 a.m. Wednesday, more than double what is considered average — 8.61 inches.”
Miami, by comparison, has had just over six inches, despite appearances, according to the NWS monthly climate data chart.
But to get to the sun, we have some more rain to absorb.
Before that dry air gets here, Wednesday still will be wet with chances as high as 90% at 5 p.m. before sliding to 20% around 8 p.m. according to the weather service.
Unsettled weather could linger Thursday and Friday ahead of the weekend respite before bumping up again to 60% on Tuesday, according to the weather service.
Look for temperature highs in the upper 80s through the week as skies clear.
This story was originally published September 23, 2026 at 10:54 AM.
Miami Herald
Miami Herald consumer trends reporter Howard Cohen, a 2017 Media Excellence Awards winner, has covered pop music, theater, health and fitness, obituaries, municipal government, breaking news and general assignment. He started his career in the Features department at the Miami Herald in 1991. Cohen is an adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Communication.
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